Buying a Business in Bulgaria

Starting from zero is not the only way into the Bulgarian market. Sometimes it makes more sense to buy a business that already works: a company with clients, a team, licenses or property, or a hotel, restaurant or shop with a history. Buying can save years. But it also means taking over everything that comes with the business, including the things the seller doesn’t mention. For a foreign buyer, with documents in Bulgarian and a market you don’t know well, careful preparation is the difference between a good deal and an expensive lesson.

What is included

A first conversation about what you want to buy, your budget and your goals
Help finding suitable businesses through our local network, if you don’t have one yet
A first review of the business and the information from the seller
Organising legal, tax and financial due diligence with independent professionals
Help understanding the results in plain English, and what they mean for the price
Coordination of the purchase documents, the notary and the registration
Setting up the business after the purchase: bank, accounting, payroll and management changes
You have one contact for the whole process, and you know the costs of each step before it starts.

Buying shares or buying the business

There are two main ways to buy a business in Bulgaria, and the choice matters.
Buying the shares of the company. You become the owner of the company as it is, with its contracts, employees, licenses and history. But you also take over its debts and risks, including ones that are not visible yet. This is why due diligence is so important here.
Buying the business or its assets. Instead of the company itself, you buy the business activity or specific assets, like equipment, property or a brand. This can reduce some risks, but it has its own rules, taxes and steps, for example with employees and contracts.
Which way is better depends on the business, the risks and the taxes. We look at this with you and the advisers early, before you agree a price.

What due diligence looks at

Legal: who really owns the company, contracts, licenses, property, court cases and debts
Tax: if all taxes were declared and paid, and if there are open risks with the tax office
Financial: the real income, costs and profit, compared with what the seller says
Employees: contracts, salaries, and any open claims
Property and assets: ownership, condition and any burdens on them
In our experience, the biggest surprises are often not hidden debts, but differences between the numbers the seller shows and the numbers in the official accounts. A good review finds this before you pay, not after.

How it works

You tell us what kind of business you are looking for, or about a business you already found.
We do a first review and tell you honestly if it looks worth going further.
We agree the scope and cost of the due diligence and the advisers who will do it.
You get the results with a clear explanation, so you can negotiate the price and the terms.
We coordinate the agreement, the notary, the registration and the handover.
After the purchase, we help with the bank, the accounting and the first changes in the business.

Why work with us

I am an entrepreneur and investor myself, and I have bought, developed and run businesses and property in Bulgaria, Spain and Greece. So I look at a deal not only through documents, but also as an owner: will this business really work after you take it over, and what will it need from you? Together with the lawyers, tax advisers and accountants we work with, you get both views, the professional and the practical.

About ready-made companies

Some people ask about buying an existing “ready” company only for its history, for example to make banking or contracts easier. This can work, but an old company with an unknown past is often more risk than help. In most cases a new company, well prepared, is the safer choice. We will tell you honestly which makes sense in your case.

Let’s talk

Tell us what kind of business you are interested in, your approximate budget, and if you already have a specific business in mind. We will come back with a clear view of the next steps.